Mauritania

Mauritania is a country in northwest Africa. Most of it is covered by the Sahara, the biggest hot desert in the world. Mauritania sits next to the Atlantic Ocean on its west side. The country has sand dunes, dry plains, and a coast full of fish. Its capital city is Nouakchott.

Desert and Coast

The Sahara covers most of Mauritania. Sand dunes stretch for miles, and temperatures can get very hot during the day. Some people live as nomads, traveling with camels to find water and food. The Atlantic coast is cooler and has lots of fish. Fishermen catch sardines, octopus, and other sea creatures. Oases with palm trees are important stops in the desert.

People and Trains

Many people in Mauritania speak Arabic and French. Music, poetry, and storytelling are important parts of life. Mauritania has one of the longest trains in the world. It carries iron ore from mines in the desert to the coast. Some brave travelers even ride on top of the train cars. This trip is famous for its desert views.

Fun Facts

• Mauritania has one of the longest trains in the world.
• The Richat Structure, also called the Eye of the Sahara, is in Mauritania.
• Most of the country is covered by desert sand.

Did You Know?

The Eye of the Sahara is a huge circle in the desert that is so big it can be seen from space.